Disregard Demonstrating Nurses “Bonded” Claims: Health Minister

The Health Minister, Mr. Kwaku Agyemang-Manu in an interview with a Top FM Morning show “Ghana te sen” Producer, debunked claims by the demonstrating nurses camping outside the premises of the Health Ministry that seem to suggest that they have a bond with government and as such they should be offered jobs by his ministry regardless, adding that the position taken by the agitating nurses is informed by ignorance.

The sixty one year old minister who is also the ruling NPP member of parliament (MP) for Dormaa Central Constituency in the Brong Ahafo region, said he is currently working on their financial clearance with the Finance Ministry; a process he said takes some time but the nurses seem not to understand anything they are told.

“Meanwhile, you are not bonded as you claim; I understand their frustration and we are only sympathizing with them. Some of them failed their exams and were referred. In fact most of them have a wide range of issues, yet are refusing to be patient and are rather resorting to demonstrating. I don’t have a problem with them demonstrating, it’s their right” Mr. Agyemang-Manu lamented.

The former Public Accounts Committee chairman said he has no soothing words for the demonstrating nurses.

Scores of trained nurses camped outside the Health Ministry Monday April 24, 2017 to register their displeasure over the time it is taking government to post them after more than nine months of completing their diploma in nursing programmes.

Below is a write up of the conversation:

Producer: Honorable Good Morning?

Agyemang-Manu: Good Morning

Producer: Hon please my name is Danso, calling from Top FM.

Agyemang-Manu: Danso, you won’t get me, am not in Ghana.

Producer: Really

Agyemang-Manu: they said what has happened there?

Producer: It is about the posting of the demonstrating nurses outside your office since yesterday

Agyemang-Manu: they don’t want to understand anything we say, I am working on their clearance and you know financial clearance is not done overnight, it takes some time. They are not even bonded as they claim; I understand their frustration and we are only sympathizing with them. Some of them failed their exams and were referred. In fact most of them have a wide range of issues, yet are refusing to be patient and are rather resorting to demonstrating. I don’t have a problem with them demonstrating, it’s their right.

Producer: Would you say something to calm them down?

Agyemang-Manu: No I won’t, I am not in town and my call credit is running out.

Producer: Alright Sir

Agyemang-Manu: You can also call the PRO at the Ministry, there are also two deputies